KIM BIRCHALL
Obsessed by the arts and crafts from an early age, Kim studied design in the heart of the British potteries in Stoke-on-Trent at Staffordshire University at 18.
Graduating with a Ba Hons in Design and specialising in glass and ceramics she then went on to have a career as a glassblower and teacher of glass for many years before returning to her first love of pottery.
Kim works in several processes, including cast glass, blown glass, thrown ceramics and hand built ceramics focusing on the seductive and beautiful crystalline glazes. Her aim is to craft elegant forms that show off the unique and individual crystalline glazes on work that is both functional and sculptural.
Kim is passionate about sharing her skills and introducing other people to glass and ceramics. She regularly teaches courses at her studio, and is a visiting lecturer at universities and runs master classes at other venues.
She works out of her studio located in Vallis Farm in Frome, Somerset where she creates a range of ceramics and glassware. Her most recent body of work focuses on using stunning crystalline glazes. Creating hand thrown pieces with English porcelain, she then grows crystals within a glaze in the kiln.